| [ Summary ] |
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is considered to be the first line therapy for children with end stage renal disease. As with adult PD patients in Japan, survival rates are high and peritonitis rates are low for Japanese children treated with PD, compared to children treated with PD in other countries. Growth retardation rates have also improved in Japan. Pediatric patients tend to require cycler, high glucose concentrated dialysates and also require adequate nutrition for growth. The duration of PD is long and the frequency of EPS in Japanese pediatric PD patients is the same as that for adults. Approximately forty percent of pediatric PD patients receive transplants around three years after PD. PD should be a bridging therapy, leading to transplantation with minimal complications. |